Bring Them Home - by Robert C O'Brien (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A gripping insider account of the high-stakes negotiations, secret diplomacy, and presidential decisions behind the effort to bring Americans held hostage overseas home.

When an American is taken hostage or wrongfully detained overseas, bringing that person home can require diplomacy, intelligence, economic pressure, personal relationships--and negotiations with some of the most dangerous governments and organizations in the world.

In Bring Them Home, former National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien takes readers behind the scenes of America's efforts to recover citizens held abroad. Before entering the White House as President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor, O'Brien served as Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, leading US diplomatic efforts on hostage cases and working directly with families, foreign leaders, intelligence officials, diplomats, and the president himself. His official role included coordinating closely with the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell and advising senior US officials on hostage policy.

O'Brien recounts negotiations involving hostile regimes, terrorist organizations, and sometimes even American allies, revealing the extraordinary combination of persistence, leverage, personal diplomacy, and improvisation required to bring captives home.

Part memoir, part geopolitical thriller, and part inside account of modern statecraft, Bring Them Home tells the story of what happens when an American disappears into a foreign prison--and the people charged with getting that person back.

Review Quotes

"Ambassador O'Brien captures the details and essence of what it's really like to represent President Trump in hostage negotiations. Fascinating details from the person in the room making the deals to bring more than 50 people home to the USA. The emotions and high stakes reveal insight never shared before this book. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to know how these negotiations really get done."--Jason Chaffetz, former House Oversight Chair and Fox News contributor

"When you finish these pages, you will know two things: First and most important, that great presidents never forget Americans being held unjustly around the world. They move heaven and earth to get them home without compromising the nation's security. Second, even the most committed of presidents need extremely intelligent, competent and driven staff to effect their agendas. Such men and women are rare and deserve the credit they do not seek. There are not that many Robert O'Briens out there. President Trump and especially the men and women whom he helped bring home know that they are blessed to have had Ambassador O'Brien on the job as SPEHA and later as NSA. We are blessed as country to have such selfless patriots. "--Hugh Hewitt, The Hugh Hewitt Radio Show and Fox News contributor

"Robert C. O'Brien's Bring Them Home is a riveting, must-read chronicle of American courage and resolve. With clear-eyed candor, exemplary leadership and hard-won wisdom, O'Brien pulls back the curtain on the Herculean diplomatic, military, and moral efforts behind every rescue. From tarmac reunions to tense negotiations with rogue regimes, he captures the human stakes with grace and grit. Part memoir, part masterclass in statecraft, this book honors the hostages, their families, and the principle that no American is ever forgotten. A must read."--C. L. Max Nikias, President Emeritus of the University of Southern California and Author of American Trojan

"All of us who had the privilege of working with Robert O'Brien at the National Security Council during his tenure as National Security Advisor, were always aware of and grateful for his work as Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and his continued determination to bring back safely innocent Americans who had been seized and held hostage by some of the most evil regimes on the planet. In this effort, the Trump record is stunning: more than ?fty-?ve Americans freed from twenty-four countries without making a single concession--a historic success over four years. Bring Them Home is O'Brien's insider account of his efforts on behalf of those Americans. It's a fascinating tale of suspense and international intrigue worthy of a James Bond movie--along with moments of amazing triumph and terrible heartbreak. Even more, Bring Them Home is the story of a man and a president who gave poignant new meaning to the phrase 'no one left behind.' For those American hostages still held in captivity or whose fates remain unknown, Bring Them Home ensures they will never be far from our thoughts--or our efforts on their and their families' behalf."--Arthur Herman, New York Times bestselling and Pulitzer Prize Finalist historian, former National Security Council official, and author of Founder's Fire: From 1776 to the Age of Trump

"Bring Them Home is a fantastic and important read by a true patriot and skilled diplomat, Robert O'Brien. It not only tells the untold story of Americans working to save their countryman from captivity and death but also provides remarkable insights into navigating the bureaucracy. As a surprising bonus, paints an amazing portrait of President Trump in action, a firsthand account that you won't get from the media. Bring Them Home is essential reading."--Kurt Schlicter, Townhall columnist and bestselling author

"My family has long viewed Robert O'Brien as one of our nation's truly great public servants. The stories in this book are heart wrenching and provide a riveting behind-the-scenes look at history as it happened. Robert loves this country, and these pages offer a powerful glimpse into his faith, determination, and profound impact on global affairs and the lives of countless Americans. This is a must-read for travelers, aspiring diplomats and national security professionals, and anyone touched by the new hostage crisis. His wisdom is proven, timely, and life-changing."--Sarah Levinson Moriarty, daughter of Robert "Bob" Levinson and hostage family advocate

About the Author

Robert C. O'Brien served as the twenty-seventh National Security Advisor of the United States from 2019 to 2021. Before joining the White House, he served as Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, leading U.S. diplomatic efforts to recover Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas. Earlier in his career, O'Brien served as a U.S. representative to the United Nations General Assembly, a senior legal officer for a UN Security Council commission, and a major in the U.S. Army Reserve. He is currently cofounder and chairman of American Global Strategies and serves on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board.